For veterans: New law expands, extends care for vets who've had toxic exposure
The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act or the PACT Act was signed into law on Aug. 10. This law expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras, adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures, adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation, and requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.
For Vietnam veterans, the VA added the following conditions to the Agent Orange Presumptive list: high blood pressure and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. The VA has also added five new locations to the presumptive location list: any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from Jan. 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976; Laos from Dec. 1, 1965, through Sept. 30, 1969; Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969; Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from Jan. 9, 1962, through July 30, 1980; and Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from Jan. 1, 1972, through Sept. 30, 1977.
For post-9/11 combat veterans, the bill extends the period of time they have to enroll in VA health care from five to 10 years post-discharge. The bill also creates a one-year open enrollment period for combat veterans who do not fall within that window. These expansions mean more veterans can enroll in VA health care without demonstrating a service-connected disability.
For Gulf war veterans, these cancers are now presumptive: brain cancer, gastrointestinal cancer of any type, glioblastoma, head cancer of any type, kidney cancer, lymphatic cancer of any type, lymphoma of any type, melanoma, neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, reproductive cancer of any type, and respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type. These illnesses are now presumptive: asthma that was diagnosed after service, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.
If you are a Monroe County resident and need assistance filing a VA disability claim or if you have questions about federal, state or local veterans benefits, please reach out to my office. Steven Miller, Monroe County Veteran Service Officer. 812-349-2537 smiller@co.monroe.in.us.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: New law expands, extends care for veterans who've had toxic exposure
